BENDIGO.

Cromwell Argus, Volume 2, Issue 80, 23 May 1871, Page 6

BENDIGO.

— o Af (From a Correspondent.) 7.C. ’’j l ' May 20, 187L?p The chief topic of interest just now on ,the goldfields being the question of Water Supply* l a few words as to our claims to be classed among the sluicing districts may not be considered but of place. This locality has hitherto been commonly associated with purely reefing matters, so it-may not possibly be uninteresting to your readers to learn that the sluicing interest bids fair to overtop that of the reefers. Quartz-reefing has been found to be, at best, but a precarious pursuit, requiring much patience and more capital to bring it to a successful issue ; so many of our prominent quartz-miners are turning their attention to hydraulic mining, the area of payable ground being found by prospecting to be almost unlimited. The Aurora water has been rented by Hazlett and party, who are cutting an extensive head-race to the terraces on the Clutha below the junction of the Lindis with that river, where already another party have been sluicing with water from Shepherd’s Creek for upwards of two years with excellent results. Alldred and party are constructing a race from Bendigo Gully to the terraces lying below Hazlett’s claim. Horrigau and Co. have obtained a grant of Dry Creek, and intend bringing in water at once to Kohinoor Gully : this will be an undertaking of considerable magnitude. Lastly, a party have rented the Else and Shine Co. ’s tail-water, at present flowing down Bendigo Gully, and have applied for a tail-race to sluice the low-lying spurs between Shepherd’s Creek and Bendigo, the water to be diverted below the Alta Co. ’s mill. Naturally the change in the direction of so much labour in a small community like ours would be likely to produce some complications ; but I think we were scarcely prepared for such as have arisen. In the first place, Mr M'Lean, of Ardgour Station, has applied to purchase G4O acres of land, the said land being proved to be auriferous, and absolutely necessary, now and hereafter, as an area whereon to stack tailings from sluicing claims in the vicinity ; and in the second place, Mr Logan objects to having dirty water sent down Bendigo Creek, or interfering with his quartz-crushing, the mill being placed at the mouth of the principal outlet for the district, a mistake, for which it is to be hoped the community here will not be made to suffer. Should either the foregoing application or objection be entertained, a great blow will have been struck at the material prosperity of tbe place, and many who now think to settle down here permanently wall find their hopes vanish like the “ baseless fabric of a vision.” Here is a fine opportunity for tbe gentle exercise of the moribund bugbear, “discretionary power.” I trust it may, in this case, be made to perform the graceful act of conferring the “ greatest good on tho greatest number.”